Classic Sailing | Sailing Holidays & Hands on Traditional Sailing

Classic Sailing holidays – Cornwall our home base

Founders of Classic Sailing Adam and Debbie based the company in St Mawes because we felt Cornwall offered the best cruising ground in the world. We now promote sailing holidays in many far flung locations from Australia to Antarctica, but a blast along the Cornwall coast under crystal clear skies or an Atlantic Ocean sunset in the Isles of Scilly takes some beating. We paint our flagship 'Eve of St Mawes' dazzling blue to match the Cornish seascape so loved by artists. Come for a short break and re-charge your zest for life. Read More....

Tall Ships round the world - that's our passion!

There is no denying we have an eye catching fleet to choose from. Classic Sailing promote vessels that are traditionally rigged and offer beautiful working examples of a bye-gone era. We only work in partnership with a select group of boat owners that are committed to giving their guest crews as a good time, not running a precious museum piece. We have barques, brigs, schooners gaff ketches, sailing trawlers and ships that carried cargoes under sail, privateers, pilot cutters, luggers and fine rowing boats.

See More - our fleet of 18 vessels and their specialisms

Hands on Sailing Holidays for One and All

'Hands On' sailing is at the core of all our sailing holidays. We have all ages sail with us. You won’t be asked to do anything beyond your physical ability  and training always begins from the moment you come on board. Classic Sailing works with several charities to increase access to sailing adventures for all. For example able bodied and disabled crew are currently tall ship sailing around the world on the three masted barque Lord Nelson. Read More...

The professional crew will train you and help you set sails, steer the ship, keep watch and even help with the navigation. They are highly skilled at bringing out your natural talents and creating a happy crew out of a bunch of strangers. Once hooked you will find you are part of a traditional boat community and it is easy to swop stories with sailors all over the world on Classic Sailing Facebook

If you are a complete newcomer to sailing let us help you sieze the day. Ring us on 01872 580022 or read more...

"By Saturday it was hard to believe some of us had only met on Friday" Mark Coates.

Tall Ships Specialists - Adrenalin Aloft

Have you ever imagined sailing on a tall ship ? Picture yourself steering hundreds of tons of wind powered square rigger across an ocean with a spoked wheel. Fancy the ultimate adrenalin buzz climbing aloft and stowing sails, or just happy to enjoy tall ship sailing at deck level, flying along with albatrosses and whales as companions?

It’s a myth that only ‘naughty’ youth can sail on square riggers and large traditional sailing vessels. There are plenty of impressive tall ships around the world that offer adventures for adults. Our office staff have worked on over 20 tall ships between us so we can give you an honest appraisal of which tall ship sailing holiday will meet your dreams and ambitions.

Read our tall ship pages on everything from tall ship days sails to ocean tall ship sailing, tips on climbing masts (not compulsory) international tall ships races and rites of passage like Cape Horn or crossing the equator.

Pilot Cutters Are Us

Classic Sailing has earnt the right to call ourselves pilot cutter specialists: We were the first company to comprehensively offer sailing holidays for adults on a purpose built pilot cutter 'Eve of St Mawes. Since 1997  we have never stopped developing our sailing holiday products and we now offer over a hundred voyage choices on our four pilot cutters, Eve, Agnes, Lizzie May (Scotland) and Annabel J and run our own annual event 'The Pilot Cutter World Championships' in Cornwall.

What is a pilot cutter and why do they make for brilliant boating holidays ? Read more...

Destinations that Bring Out the Explorer....

If there is any pattern to our wide selection of sailing grounds – it is the destinations with the best unspoilt coastal scenery, wildlife opportunities and sailing winds. We are excited by mountain backdrops and natural anchorages, self sufficient local communities, historic ports and remote islands rather than tourist hotspots. Classic Sailing staff have sailed in many far flung places from Antarctic South Georgia to Cape Verde. We are always thrilled to chat to you about any of our sailing destinations. Ring Georgia, Debbie or Adam on 01872 580022 or check out our tips and typical itineraries on our destinations pages.

RYA Sailing Courses on Boats with Bowsprits

Classic Sailing is a RYA Recognised Training Centre. We offer RYA sailing courses like Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Yachtmaster Prep, but what sets us aside from the competition is that we teach on beautiful classic boats with bowsprits and blocks and tackles...Bring your camera, and be prepared to learn both traditional seamanship and modern skills like electronic navigation, radar and how to cook on a boat like Rick Stein (well, almost)

Read more about our RYA Courses

Informal practical courses - speed up your skills!

If you are looking for the perfect organisation to grow your sailing skills over a number of years then Classic Sailing offers far more than a conventional RYA sailing school. We have mini sailing courses rich in learning opportunities that range from:- square rigger day sails to advanced lugger racing skills; sail handling challenges where you don't use the engine, or themed short breaks to learn photography or painting from experts. The beauty of ocean tall ship sailing is you have time to learn whether it be practical skills, oceanographic research or interesting lectures. For cultural experiences the bigger ships often visit communities only reachable by boat.

Other ways to learn, informal sailing courses for fun or a careers....Read more

Lonely Planet – Voted  Classic Sailing one of the 10 Best Weekend Courses in the world in 2010

Individuals with Romantic Souls

Who Comes on a Classic Sailing holiday ? This is the question at the back of everyone's mind when they book a holiday or sailing course. Firstly the vast majority who book come as individuals, and it is a great sociable holiday for solo travellers. We have always tried to encourage non sailors to try a floating holiday and have run successful campaigns to encourage more women at sea. We have all walks of life and 'individuals with romantic souls' would describe many of our customers. If you love the sea and the great outdoors, enjoy activities where you can participate in the adventure fully with others and find pleasure in good food, scenery and conversation then look no further....See our customer comments

Classic Sailing Website: Tip of the Iceberg....

Our home page is the tip of the iceberg. There are over 300 voyages and a huge amount of inspiring information for would be sailors and explorers. Here are a few tips.

Quickest way to find voyages, dates and prices is to use the VOYAGE SEARCH (top left box)

Researching a destination - see our DESTINATIONS menu, download a brochure or browse our photo gallery

Interested in a specific vessel - see VESSELS menu for pages on accommodation, history, skipper profiles, kit lists.

Want something to read in the bath ? Print off our individual vessel or destination brochures (see examples below)

Quick overview of all voyages, dates and prices - print our full fleet sailing schedule

"If you love sailing it is a website you can easily lose a Friday afternoon to" Chloe Thomas